From White House Faith Office Policy to Immigration Relief Implementation
Published by: Zomi Press
Date: January 2026
Category: Policy Explainer | Immigration | Religious Freedom
The United States government has taken a significant step to reduce disruptions faced by faith communities by eliminating a long-criticized immigration requirement affecting religious workers. Under a new interim final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and implemented by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), thousands of religious workers abroad will no longer be subject to a mandatory one-year foreign residency requirement before returning to the United States.
The rule, effective immediately as of January 14, 2026, applies to religious workers holding R-1 Non-immigrant status, including pastors, priests, nuns, rabbis, missionaries, and other non-ministerial religious staff.
What Changed Under the New Rule
Previously, R-1 religious workers were permitted to remain in the United States for a maximum of five years. Upon reaching that limit, they were required to leave the country and remain abroad for at least one full year before becoming eligible to reapply for R-1 admission.
Under the new DHS rule:
- Religious workers must still depart the United States after reaching the five-year statutory limit
- However, the one-year minimum foreign residency requirement has been eliminated
- Eligible workers may seek reentry in R-1 status as soon as their new petition is approved
DHS stated that the change is intended to reduce unnecessary disruptions to faith-based communities while maintaining the integrity of the immigration system.
Policy Background: Executive Order 14205
The 2026 immigration rule follows a broader policy direction established in Executive Order 14205, signed on February 7, 2025, by Donald Trump. The order formally established the White House Faith Office, placing religious liberty and faith-based engagement within the Executive Office of the President.
Executive Order 14205 emphasized that faith-based entities and houses of worship play a vital role in strengthening families, promoting community stability, and delivering services that often exceed the capacity of government programs. The order directed federal agencies to identify and reduce regulatory and administrative burdens that unnecessarily interfere with the free exercise of religion.
One key provision of the order instructed agencies to propose regulatory changes that remove barriers preventing faith-based organizations from fully participating in public life and government-regulated activities. DHS’s decision to eliminate the one-year foreign residency requirement is widely viewed as a direct implementation of this mandate.
Addressing Visa Backlogs and Community Disruption
The demand for immigrant visas under the EB-4 religious worker category has exceeded annual limits for years, resulting in long wait times for permanent residency. Changes made by the Department of State in 2023 further extended those delays for applicants from certain countries.
As a result, many religious workers reached the maximum allowable period of stay in R-1 status before becoming eligible for permanent residence. The previous one-year foreign residency requirement compounded these delays, leaving congregations without trusted clergy for extended periods.
By removing the mandatory waiting period abroad, DHS aims to minimize leadership gaps and allow religious organizations to maintain continuity while workers remain subject to lawful immigration processes.
Implications for Churches and Faith Communities
For churches and faith-based organizations—particularly immigrant and ethnic congregations—the policy change carries practical and immediate significance.
- Continuity of ministry: Congregations are less likely to experience prolonged pastoral vacancies
- Family stability: Clergy families face fewer forced separations and disruptions to education and housing
- Community resilience: Faith-based programs serving refugees, migrants, and vulnerable populations can continue with greater consistency
Importantly, the rule does not grant permanent residency, waive security checks, or extend the five-year statutory limit. DHS emphasized that all existing eligibility requirements and vetting procedures remain in place.
Public Comment Period
As an interim final rule, the regulation is effective immediately, but USCIS has opened a 60-day public comment period following publication in the Federal Register. Faith-based organizations, denominational bodies, and community institutions are invited to submit written comments to provide feedback on the rule and its implementation.
Zomi Press Analysis
The elimination of the one-year foreign residency requirement represents a shift from symbolic recognition of religious freedom to tangible administrative reform. Rather than altering immigration law, the rule removes a regulatory obstacle that disproportionately affected faith communities during prolonged visa backlogs.
For immigrant churches and small congregations that rely on a single pastor or minister, the change offers stability without undermining the rule of law. It also signals a broader policy approach in which religious liberty considerations are incorporated into regulatory decision-making across federal agencies.
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